Armed Forces Transfusion Centre (AFTC) is the premier institution of the Armed Forces in the field of transfusion medicine. It was initially raised in Pune on March 18, 1948 as Field Transfusion Unit. The location and name of this centre changed several times and finally it was shifted to Delhi Cantonment in March 1953. Since then, this centre has been involved in providing transfusion services to serving soldiers and their families.

On March 10, 1964, the transfusion centre was redesignated as Armed Forces Transfusion Centre. The aim was to meet the increasing demands of medical units located in northern, western, southern and central command. In 1970 a haematology laboratory was established to carry out specialised investigations. In 1972, a microbiology laboratory was set up to test blood donors for Hepatitis-B.

In May 1989, a nodal centre for AIDS was established to screen out cases for HIV antibody with the collaboration of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Since 1993, AFTC has been designated as Zonal Blood Testing Centre and HIV Surveillance Centre by National AIDS Control Organisation. The centre has been carrying out AIDS surveillance in collaboration with the prestigious institutions of the country like National Institute of Communicable Diseases, ICMR and All India Institute of Medical Science.

The centre trains postgraduate students of Pathology and laboratory assistants. It has been granted the status of regional blood transfusion centre by the State Blood Transfusion council, Government of Delhi in January last.

Since its inception, the centre has been doing yeoman services to the soldiers and his family. It has supported the gallant soldiers in 1948, 1965, 1971 operations, operations Vijay and Parakram with life-saving blood, blood components, intravenous fluids, equipments etc. The centre has won laurels in the past 50 years and its personnel are committed to keep the flag of Armed Forces Transfusion Centre flying high.